NEW RATE REVIEW PROCESS FOR SASKATCHEWAN

Released on July 26, 2000

The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel has been established to conduct independent

reviews of rate change requests from Crown corporations.



The six-member panel and its mandate are patterned after the Saskatchewan

Interim Rate Review Panel, set up November 18, 1999. The interim panel

completed two rate reviews and its mandate expires July 31. The new panel's

mandate takes effect August 1.



"Over the past several months, we have studied a number of options for a crown

rate review mechanism and we believe this is the most appropriate model at this

time," Crown Investments Corporation Minister John Nilson said. "The approach

used by the interim panel was effective in gathering input from the public and

the Crowns, evaluating proposed rate changes and providing advice to

government, and it was relatively inexpensive to operate. We are confident the

new panel will be just as effective."



The Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel will be chaired by Bob Lacoursiere, a

consultant and business leader in Saskatoon, who also served as vice-chair of

the interim panel. The other members are: Joan Meyer of Swift Current, a

business person who also served as a member of interim panel; Tracey Bakkeli of

Regina, a financial consultant; Jack Boan of Regina, a self-employed consultant

and Professor Emeritus at the University of Regina; Jo-Ann Carignan-Vallee of

Assiniboia, a restaurant owner and town councillor; and Sheldon Craig of La

Ronge, a business relations manager with the La Ronge branch of the Prince

Albert Credit Union.



"The panel's mandate will be to review rate change requests from SaskPower,

SaskEnergy and the Auto Fund administered by SGI, and provide an opinion to

government on whether the proposed increases are fair and reasonable," Nilson

said. "In doing its job, the panel will take into account the interests of

customers, the particular crown corporation and the public. Government will

remain accountable for making final decisions on rate changes."



As part of their original mandate, members of the interim panel were asked to

provide government with their views about a long term rate review process. The

letter outlining their recommendations and their support for a long term

process patterned after the interim panel is attached.



"I thank the members of the interim panel for their advice and input, which

helped us to arrive at our decision," Nilson said. "I also wish to thank the

interim chair Gerald Fiske and Frank Degenstein, for their service on the

interim panel, as well as Bob Lacoursiere and Joan Meyer for agreeing to

continue on with the new panel."



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For more information, contact:



Karen Schmidt

Acting Executive Director, Communications

Crown Investments Corporation

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5889